Bab: a Sub-Deb eBook

“There is somthing feirce about black eyes,”
she said, finishing the cream. “I feel
this way. One cannot tell what black eyes are
thinking. They are a mystery, and as such they
atract me. Almost all murderers have black eyes.”

“Jane!” I exclaimed.

“They mean passion,” she muzed. “They
are strong eyes. Did you ever see a black-eyed
man with glasses? Never. Bab, are you engaged
to Tom?”

“Practicaly.”

I saw that she wished details, but I am not that sort.
I am not the kind to repeat what has been said to
me in the emotion of Love. I am one to bury sentament
deep in my heart, and have therfore the reputation
of being cold and indiferent. But better that
than having the Male Sex afraid to tell me how I effect
them for fear of it being repeated to other girls,
as some do.

“Of course it cannot be soon, if at all,”
I said. “He has three more years of College,
and as you know, here they regard me as a child.”

“You have your own income.”

That reminded me of the reason for my having sought
the privasy of my Chamber. I said:

“Jane, I am thinking of buying an automobile.
Not a Limousine, but somthing styleish and fast.
I must have Speed, if nothing else.”

She stopped eating a caromel and gave me a stunned
look.

“What for?”

“For emergencies.”

“Then they disaprove of him?” she said,
in a low, tence voice.

“They know but little, although what they suspect—­Jane,”
I said, my bitterness bursting out, “what am
I now? Nothing. A prisoner, or the equivalent
of such, forbiden everything because I am to young!
My Soul hampered by being taken to the country where
there is nothing to do, given a pony cart, although
but 20 months younger than Leila, and not going to
come out until she is married, or permanently engaged.”

“It is hard,” said Jane. “Heart-breaking,
Bab.”

We sat, in deep and speachless gloom. At last
Jane said:

“Has she anyone in sight?”

“How do I know? They keep me away at School
all year. I am but a stranger here, although
I try hard to be otherwise.”

“Because we might help along, if there is anyone.
To get her married is your only hope, Bab. They’re
afraid of you. That’s all. You’re
the tipe to atract Men, except your noze, and you
could help that by pulling it. My couzin did
that, only she did it to much, and made it pointed.”

I looked in my mirror and sighed. I have always
desired an aristocratic noze, but a noze cannot be
altered like teeth, unless broken and then generaly
not improved.

“I have tried a shell hair pin at night, but
it falls off when I go to sleep,” I said, in
a despondant manner.

We sat for some time, eating caromels and thinking
about Leila, because there was nothing to do with
my noze, but Leila was diferent.